MORE LAND BY DERWENTWATER FOR THE NATION.
[TO THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."] Sza,—My apology for writing is that you have in former years kindly helped us in obtaining such land of national beauty as Brandelhow and Gowbarrow Park for the public.
Those of us who are resident at Keswick have observed with pleasure the great additional enjoyment to the residents and visitors that the acquisition of Brandelhow has proved. Moved thereby, several friends in this neighbourhood, who realised the worth to the nation of a free foreshore and wander-ground by the lake, have in the past year formed themselves into a syndicate and purchased the adjacent estate of Manisty, at the south-western end of Derwentwater, and they have not only enabled the National Trust on favourable terms to become possessors of the foreshore, but they have, in addition, given several acres of its woodland to the Trust, and hold control of any building operations that may be allowed on the remainder.
An opportunity has arisen of obtaining the remaining portion of the southern shore for the nation. This south-eastern part of the shore joins the Manisty Estate before-mentioned, and com- prises a wooded headland of great beauty with a bay on either side of it, and a stretch of rocky ground behind it, filled with heather and sweet gale and rough grass, from which the finest possible views are obtainable of Borrodale to the south, and of Derwentwater and Skiddaw to the north.
This purchase will not only enable the public to pass from Brandelhow right round the south end of the lake as far as the river Derwent, but through the kindness of a neighbouring land- owner will enable those who come by boat to have access to the Borrodale Road near Manisty. Beautiful as it is in summer, this rough heathery waste is more beautiful in winter-time. For colour it is then an artist's paradise. Not the least important part of the purchase is that it carries with it nine acres of the lake itself with boating and fishing rights.
Thropgh the generosity of friends to the cause, I have been enabled to obtain all but £100 of the necessary purchase price of this estate, which it is intended to vest in the National Trust, and will prove a valuable addition to their property on the lake. I am sincerely desirous of raising the full amount within the next two or three weeks in order that the double acquisition may be made over to the National Trust at the same time.
There is but one Derwentwater in the world, and it is worth while surely for the lovers of lake scenery to make a little personal sacrifice that they may hand on some of its beauty free to the public for all generations.—I am, Sir, &c.,
P.S.—I may add that the price of the land, which except for one or two fine sites is not building-land, is very reasonable. Ten pounds will secure an acre.
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